•V 


M/  ~~ 

f 

f 

\j/  r^OM  LAKE  TO 


prospectus 


f 

I  GENEVA  LAKE 


f  SYCAMORE  AND 

I  — 

SOUTHERN 

ELECTRIC 
I  RAILWAY 

w 

vt/ 


LAWRENCE  J.  GUTTER 

Collection  of  Chicogoono 

THE    UNIVERSITY   OF   ILLINOIS 
AT  CHICAGO 

The  University  Library 


*** 


Prospectus... 

GENEVA  LAKE,  SYCAMORE  AND  SOUTHERN 
ELECTRIC  RAILWAY  COMPANY 


Incorporated  January  1 3,  1 898 

GENERAL  OFFICES  ;  SYCAMORE,  ILLINOIS 


...Officers... 

HON.  JAMES  BRANEN,  President  GEO.  B.  MORRIS,  Secretary 

GEORGE  BROWN,  Treasurer  ==_====_==  JOHN  B.  WHALEN,  Gen'l  Manager 

...Directors.,. 

i^^i^^^'rv-   •    '  *  HON.  A.  G.  WHITE,  )_  H.  F.  JONES,  Hebron  fnBB^SSSn'  I    wr 

JOHN  R.  KELLOGG,    -Woodstock  RAK-KR  Sandwich  RRr>WM  r  LOREN  WOODARD,  \    Marengo 

EMIL  ARNOLD,  S' BAKER»  I  D- S"  BROWN,  Genoa  p  w   PATRiCK> 

HON.  JAMES  BRANEN,     ) 
JOHN  B.  WHALEN,  [  s  K 

GEORGE  BROWN,  i 

GEORGE  B.  MORRIS, 
EDWARD  DELANA,  Cortland 

Illustrated  with  Sctcntp  fioe  Reproductions  of  photographs 


3'lTSS  Of 

<£.  F.  Engstrom  S  (Co. 
340-342 ^Dearborn  St. 


Preface.., 


fllS  prOSpCClUS  has  been  prepared  for  the  purpose 
of  giving  all  persons  interested  in  the  construction  of  the 
Geneva  Lake,  Sycamore  and  Southern  Electric  Railway 
a  thorough  understanding  of  the  towns  and  country  through 
which  the  road  runs ;  the  reasons  why  it  should  be  built ; 
the  character  of  the  country  over  which  it  passes ;  the  manu- 
facturing and  commercial  interests  of  the  towns  on  its  line ;  the  prospects  for 
business  and  to  show  in  detail  the  probable  cost  of  operation,  leaving  the  reader 
to  judge  of  its  chances  for 


Copies  of  this  Prospectus  will  be  mailed 
to  any  address 

Price  25  Cents 

ADDRESS 

JNO.  B.  WHALEN 

Syoamor*...llllneli 


.LOCATION. 


DEFERRING  to  the  map  shown  on  another  page,  you  will  notice  that  this  road  touches  towns 
of  an  average  distance  of  60  miles  from  Chicago,  in  a  radius  from  southwest  to  north- 
west, passing  through  a  country  that  has  no  railways  running  north  and  south  for  many 
miles  on  either  side.  Before  the  advent  of  electric  railways  it  was  considered  essential 
that  all  steam  roads  built  in  this  vicinity  must  lead  to  Chicago  ;  with  the  rapid  growth 
of  that  city  came  more  roads,  until  the  crowded  condition  of  the  yards  of  each  road  demanded  some 
better  mode  of  handling  the  freight ;  this  condition  brought  about  the  building  of  a  belt  line  within  the  city 
limits  where  freight  was  transferred  from  one  road  to  another  without  being  taken  into  the  heart  of  the 
city.  After  a  few  years  this  was  found  inadequate  to  handle  the  immense  business  demanded  of  it,  and 
the  Elgin,  Joliet  and  Eastern  was  constructed  at  an  average  distance  of  25  miles  from  the  city,  its  northern 
terminus  being  Waukegan  on  the  lake,  passing  southerly  to  Joliet,  and  from  there  east  to  Chesterton, 
Ind.,  crossing  or  touching  every  road  entering  Chicago,  from  which  freight  intended  for  eastern  points  is 
transferred  to  the  proper  road  without  passing  through  the  city  ;  and  in  like  manner  freight  coming  from 
the  east  to  points  west  of  Chicago  is  carried  over  the  same  line. 

The  Geneva  Lake,  Sycamore  and  Southern  is  still  another  step  in  the  direction  of  a  great  outer 
belt  line,  as  it  crosses  the  Rockford  and  Kenosha  division  of  the  Northwestern  at  Hebron ;  the  Wisconsin 
division  at  Woodstock,  and  the  Freeport  division  of  the  Northwestern  at  Marengo;  the  Milwaukee  and 
St.  Paul  and  the  Wisconsin  division  of  the  Illinois  Central  are  crossed  at  Genoa;  the  Chicago  Great 
Western  at  Sycamore;  the  main  line  of  the  Northwestern  at  Cortland;  the  Chicago  and  Iowa  at  Hinckley; 

5 


the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Ouincy  at  Sandwich;  the  Fox  River  branch  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.,  at  Millington; 
the  Rock  Island  at  Morris;  and  through  connections  at  that  point  will  be  able  to  reach  the  Santa  Fe; 
Chicago,  Alton  &.  St.  Louis;  Wabash,  and  the  Illinois  Central. 

It  will  be  seen  that  10  lines  of  road  are  crossed  by  the  proposed  line,  nine  of  which  lead  to  Chicago 
and  one  connecting  with  Milwaukee. 

The  length  of  this  road  is  about  110  miles,  passing  through  flourishing  cities  and  villages  herein 
more  particularly  described.  The  country  from  one  end  of  the  line  to  the  other  is  made  up  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  State.  It  would  be  impossible  to  lay  out  a  road  of  this  length  in  any  part  of  the 
country,  other  than  this,  where  it  could  be  said  that  it  did  not  pass  a  single  acre  of  poor  or  unproductive 
land.  The  strength  and  character  of  the  soil  is  fully  illustrated  by  the  kind  of  farm  buildings  and  improve- 
ments one  sees  along  the  line.  The  surface  of  the  ground  is  gently  undulating,  no  steep  or  abrupt 
grades  being  encountered,  the  surveys  showing  that  the  greatest  grade  will  not  exceed  8j/£  per  cent,  and 
that  no  heavy  work  will  be  required  anywhere  along  the  line. 

When  the  great  Drainage  Canal,  from  Lake  Michigan  to  the  Illinois  River,  is  completed  it  is 
expected  that  additional  work  will  be  done  to  make  navigation  possible  from  Chicago  to  the  gulf.  The 
southern  terminus  of  this  road  will  connect  with  this  great  waterway. 


.CONSTRUCTION 


|T  is  proposed  to  construct  and  equip  this  road  in  the  most  thorough  manner.  For  a  large 
portion  of  the  way  it  will  be  built  along  the  highway  where  the  right  of  way  has  already 
been  obtained;  where  distance  can  be  saved  private  right  of  way  has  been  secured  ; 
through  the  country  it  is  expected  to  use  the  east  side  of  the  country  road  and  through 
cities  and  villages  the  middle  of  the  streets.  The  road  will  be  thoroughly  and  carefully 
graded,  a  good  quality  of  ties  selected,  a  heavy  rail  of  an  approved  pattern  laid,  the  whole  line  ballasted, 
and  the  work  as  completely  done  as  if  it  were  to  be  used  by  a  steam  road  running  heavy  freight  trains. 
Convenient  sidings,  switches  and  spurs  will  be  put  in  as  the  nature  of  the  work  will  require.  It  has  not 
been  definitely  settled  what  particular  system  of  electric  motive  power  will  be  adopted;  it  can  be  said  that 
it  will  be  approved  by  competent  engineers  of  experience  in  such  matters,  and  everything  will  be  done  to 
make  the  system  complete  and  substantial  and  at  the  same  time  economical  to  operate. 

We  propose  to  adopt  cars  suitable  to  the  service  required  of  them,  having  all  the  convenience  of 
a  day  coach  on  a  steam  line,  lighted  and  heated  by  the  same  current  of  electricity  that  operates  their 
motors,  which  will  be  built  to  run  the  cars  at  a  speed  of  at  least  30  miles  per  hour,  as  this  speed  can 
be  safely  maintained  over  every  mile  of  the  road.  While  ordinary  freight  cars  will  be  handled  and  trans- 
ferred from  one  steam  road  to  another  and  delivered  from  factories  to  steam  roads,  a  special  design  will 
probably  be  adopted  for  local  freight. 

It  is  intended  to  operate  the  running  of  the  trains  by  long-distance  telephone,  and  to  construct  the 
line  so  that  a  portable  telephone  set  can  be  connected  and  used  on  any  half  mile  on  the  line. 

7 


BUSINESS  IN  SIGHT. 


MILE  it  is  not  the  intention  of  the  management  to  make  this  an  exclusive  passenger  road, 
the  passenger  service  will  be  up  to  date  in  every  particular.  That  the  road  is  a  neces- 
sity for  conveying  passengers  no  one  can  doubt.  To  illustrate  the  difficulties  of  getting 
north  or  south  to  the  towns  along  the  line,  a  resident  of  Hebron,  to  reach  Woodstock, 
12  miles  distant,  by  rail,  must  travel  29  miles,  changing  cars  twice  on  the  route.  To 
reach  Woodstock  by  rail  from  Marengo,  about  13  miles  distant,  one  must  go  via  Elgin,  making  about  50 
miles  travel.  The  same  condition  exists  in  DeKalb  County;  the  towns  in  the  southern  end  of  the  county 
can  only  be  reached  from  the  northern  end  by  rail  after  many  miles  travel,  making  numerous  changes 
and  several  delays  waiting  for  trains. 

-  As  three  county  seats  are  located  on    east    and    west    steam    roads    that    the    proposed    electric  line 
passes  through,   the  necessity  of  the  road  is  apparent  to  every  one. 

It  is  expected  that  during  the  summer  season  a  large  business  aside  from  the  regular  passenger 
traffic  will  be  done  in  carrying  people  to  and  from  Geneva  Lake,  as  parties  and  excursions  from  the 
country  and  towns  along  the  line  will  be  continually  passing  over  the  road;  in  fact,  it  is  expected  that  a 
large  business  of  this  kind  will  be  done  with  Chicago  people  who  will  take  our  cars  at  Woodstock  for  the 
Lake;  as  the  season  usually  lasts  four  months,  a  revenue  of  several  thousand  dollars  per  annum  will  be 
assured.  We  anticipate  that  the  line  will  be  largely  patronized  by  commercial  travelers,  as  the  cars  will 
be  constructed  so  that  a  reasonable  amount  of  baggage  can  be  handled.  The  item  of  carrying  children 
to  and  from  school  on  a  road  of  this  length  will  in  itself  be  a  large  revenue. 

8 


DAIRY  INTERESTS. 


|HE  north  80  miles  of  this  railway  passes  through  a  portion  of  country  largely  devoted 
to  dairying  ;  the  north  50  miles  is  almost  exclusively  a  dairy  country,  hardly  a  farmer 
having  less  than  20  cows  and  many  owning  over  100.  Milk  is  always  sent  to  the  cream- 
eries or  shipped  to  Chicago.  There  are  20  creameries  in  active  operation  along  the 
north  80  miles  above  mentioned  which  will  probably  average  7,000  pounds  of  milk  per  day 
each;  the  steam  roads  leading  to  Chicago  will  take  60,000  pounds,  making  in  the  aggregate  200,000 
pounds  of  milk  per  day  handled  along  the  line.  Suppose  this  road  will  be  able  to  handle  only  25 
per  cent  of  this,  at  an  average  of  rll/2  cents  per  100  pounds,  which  is  25  per  cent  less  than  the  usual 
charges,  it  will  certainly  make  a  nice  daily  income  for  the  company.  These  creameries  must  also  have 
coal  for  steam  purposes;  many  of  them  are  now  hauling  their  fuel  from  three  to  seven  miles;  then  their 
products  must  be  taken  to  the  market  once  or  twice  a  week  in  all  kinds  of  weather.  Will  not  the 
operators  be  prompt  to  patronize  an  electric  railway  offering  so  many  conveniences  ?  For  the  purpose  of 
handling  milk  properly  special  cars  will  be  used,  which  will  run  at  such  times  as  will  be  convenient  to 
the  patrons.  At  certain  times  during  the  week  refrigerator  cars  will  pass  over  the  line  to  take  butter 
from  the  creameries  to  the  steam  roads. 


9 


...EXPRESS. 


VERY  day  car  or  train  will  carry  express  packages,  delivering  not  only  to  the  towns  but  to 
persons  living  along  the  line  in  the  country.  It  is  intended  to  make  this  system  complete 
in  every  detail. 

The  manufacturing  towns,  viz.,  Morris,  Sandwich,  Sycamore,  Genoa,  Marengo  and 
Woodstock,  will  furnish  considerable  business.  Sandwich  manufactures  a  large  line  of 
agricultural  implements,  and  is  continually  sending  out  repairs  for  the  great  number  of  machines  already 
in  use;  Sycamore  manufactures  a  similar  line;  the  insulated  wire  factories  at  Sycamore  are  daily  ship- 
ping north  and  south  ;  Genoa's  shoe  factory  and  Marengo's  stove  factory,  foundry  and  machine  shop 
would  use  this  line  largely  in  shipping.  Woodstock  manufactories  would  use  it  in  the  same  manner,  and 
the  breweries  and  bottling  works  at  Morris  and  Woodstock  would  use  it  to  the  largest  extent.  The 
larger  towns  having  bakeries  would  ship  their  goods  daily  to  the  smaller  towns  along  the  line.  Small 
fruit  products  from  the  vicinity  of  Sandwich  and  south  of  that  point  would  find  a  ready  market  in  the 
towns  north  without  first  paying  express  charges  to  Chicago,  a  commission  to  the  commission  merchant 
and  express  charges  back  to  the  dealer,  as  is  often  the  case  at  present. 


10 


.MAIL  SERVICE.. 


F  you  will  look  over  the  map  shown  on  another  page  you  will  notice  that  mail  coming  over  the 
Rock  Island  or  Burlington  routes  from  the  southwest  for  towns  along  the  line  of  this  road  north 
of  the  stations  touched  on  the  above  lines  must  all  go  to  Chicago  and  there  be  transferred  to 
the  roads  leading  to  the  towns  along  the  line  and  carried  to  the  west  again  to  its  destination ; 
this  is  also  true  of  the  other  lines  crossed  on  the  northern  end  with  mail  from  the  northwest. 

If   the    mail    is    thrown    to    this    road    it    can   be    delivered    from    four  to    six   hours  earlier  than  it    now    is. 

The    government    is    never   slow    to    adopt    a    service    where    a  .prompt  delivery  of  the  mails  and  a  saving 

of  time  is  effected. 


11 


....COAL 


ONSIDERABLE  time  has  been  spent  in  locating  this  road  with  a  terminus  in  the  coal 
fields.  Its  promoters  were  not  only  seeking  quantity  but  quality ;  they  believe  that  they 
have  found  not  only  the  best  bituminous  coal  mined  in  the  State,  but  a  field  that  will 
produce  for  100  years  to  come.  The  vein  averages  from  24  to  60  inches  in  thickness, 
lying  90  to  105  feet  below  the  surface,  having  a  good  roof  or  rock  covering;  can  be  easily 
mined;  makes  an  excellent  coal  for  steam  or  domestic  purposes,  as  it  contains  but  little  sulphur,  seldom 
clinkers  and  leaves  nearly  a  white  ash.  This  deposit  is  touched  by  no  other  railway,  although  mines  have 
been  operated  in  some  parts  of  the  field  in  a  small  way  for  some  years.  No  better  illustration  of  its 
quality  can  be  cited  than  the  fact  that  it  is  hauled  by  teams  for  25  miles  to  towns  where  it  is  sold  for 
$1.00  per  ton  more  than  other  soft  coal  from  Illinois  fields  brings.  The  coal  has  a  hard,  bright  appear- 
ance, will  hardly  soil  the  hands,  and  will  lay  for  weeks  exposed  to  the  weather  before  it  slackens  or 
crumbles. 


12 


....ICE. 


IHE  purity  of  ice  from  Geneva  Lake  is  never  questioned,  as  all  water  flowing  into  the 
lake  comes  from  springs,  and  many  springs  flow  into  the  lake  which  come  to  the  surface 
a  few  feet  from  the  shore.  During  the  ice  harvest  it  is  shipped  many  miles  to  fill  ice 
houses,  and  to  some  extent  is  stored  along  the  lake  front. 

No  good  ice  is  secured  along  the  whole  length  of  this  road,  all  streams  crossed  being 
too  shallow  until  Fox  River  is  reached,  but  the  sewage  from  numerous  towns  pollutes  this  stream  to  such 
an  extent  that  no  ice  is  stored.  The  Illinois  River,  which  has  formerly  furnished  much  ice,  is  used 
no  longer,  on  account  of  the  sewage  from  Chicago,  Joliet,  Wilmington  and  other  towns.  Under  these 
conditions  it  is  fair  to  estimate  that  during  the  ice  harvest  the  road  can  handle  at  least  10,000  tons  of 
ice  at  a  fair  profit. 


13 


.GRAVEL 


ARGE  deposits  of  an  excellent  quality  of  gravel  are  found  in  many  places  along  the  line  of 
this  road,  while  many  parts  of  the  country  through  which  it  passes  are  barren  and  none  can 
be  obtained  for  miles.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  the  construction  of  this  road  will,  with  its 
facilities  for  obtaining  cheap  gravel,  solve  the  problem  of  good  roads  for  some  distance 
back  from  the  line.  An  ample  supply  has  been  secured  not  only  for  the  use  of  the  road 
but  for  others  as  it  may  be  needed. 


14 


WEST   END  OF  GENEVA  LAKE   FROM  SOUTH  SHORE 


.GENEVA  LAKE. 


|HIS  most  beautiful  of  all  summer  resorts,  often  called  the  Saratoga  of  the  West,  is  situated 
53  miles  southwest  from  Milwaukee  and  70  miles  northwest  from  Chicago,  and  is  only 
touched  by  one  railway,  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern,  and  is  known  far  and  near  as  the 
loveliest  summer  resort  in  the  country.  In  all  ages  man  has  sought  rest  and  recreation  on 
the  shores  of  oceans,  lakes  and  rivers,  often  traveling  days  through  forests  and  over  mountains 

in  search  of  an  ideal  spot.       Byron,   in  Childe  Harold,  says  of  Geneva  Lake  in  Switzerland,   calling  it  by 

the  name  it  was  known  by  in  his  time. 

"  Clear,  placid  Leman  !    Thy  contrasted  lake, 
With  the  wild  world  I  dwelt  in,  is  a  thing 
Which  warns  me,  with  its  stillness,  to  forsake 
Earth's  troubled  waters  for  a  purer  spring. 
.    This  quiet  sail  is  as  a  noiseless  wing 

To  waft  me  from  distraction  ;  once  I  loved 

Torn  ocean's  roar,  but  thy  soft  murmuring 

Sounds  sweet  as  if  a  sister's  voice  reproved, 

That  I  with  stern  delights  should  e'er  have  been  so  moved." 

In  fact  there  is  abundant  evidence  that  this  lake  was  not  only  a  favorite  resort  of  the  Indians,  but 
from  the  numerous  mounds  found  by  the  earlier  settlers  some  of  which  can  still  be  seen,  that  it  was  the 
home  of  that  pre-historic  race — the  mound  builders,  whose  fancies  caused  mounds  to  be  built  in  peculiar 
shapes,  often  representing  animals  and  implements.  Where  the  village  of  Lake  Geneva  now  stands  one 
of  these  once  existed  in  the  form  of  a  huge  turtle  with  its  head  towards  the  lake,  and  being  about  60  feet 
long.  About  five  miles  west  of  this  was  one  in  the  form  of  a  drawn  bow  with  arrow  pointed  toward 

16 


the  lake  ;    the  bow  was  about  90  feet  long.      Nu- 
merous other  mounds  were  found  in  this  vicinity. 

The  first  white  men  came  to  the  lake  in  1832, 
and  permanent  settlers  began  to  arrive  a  few  years 
later.  The  Indians  who  occupied  this  country  at 
this  time  were  the  Pottawatomies,  Chippewas  and 
Ottawas.  The  village  of  Big  Foot,  chief  of  the 
Pottawatomies,  was  at  a  point  on  the  south  shore 
of  the  lake  near  its  west  end.  The  village  was 
abandoned  by  the  Indians  in  1834,  at  which  time 
a  treaty  was  made  by  the  government  for  the  land 
when  the  Indians  went  further  west.  It  is  reported 
that  Big  Foot  returned  to  this  spot  many  years 
after,  died  and  was  buried  near;  the  site  of  his 
former  village. 

The  shores  of  this  lake  are  lined  with  summer 
residences,  hotels,  club  houses,  and  thousands  of 
people  spend  the  warm  months  at  this  place.  Four  large  steamers  make  the  round  of  the  lake  each 
day,  calling  at  stated  hours  at  the  many  piers.  Beside  these  are  about  fifty  private  steam  yachts,  sail 
boats,  etc.,  boat  racing  being  one  of  the  favorite  amusements  during  the  season. 

No  lake  in  the  wect  has  more  palatial  summer  residences  than  this.  Houses  costing  from  $5,000 
to  $40,000,  with  everything  about  them  in  keeping.  The  improvements  in  this  direction  have  cost 
millions  of  dollars  and  the  work  still  goes  on. 

17 


SHERIDAN   REGATTA. 


What  few  streams  there  are  that  flow  into  the 
lake  come  from  springs,  and  numerous  springs  are 
found  along  the  shore.  The  water  of  some  is  said 
to  contain  medicinal  properties. 

Geneva  lake  is  noted  all  over  the  United  States 
as  being  one  of  the  very  few  lakes  where  ciscoes 
are  caught.  This  delicate  fish  appears  in  count- 
less thousands  when  the  cisco  fly  arrives,  which 
is  usually  between  the  first  and  tenth  of  June. 
They  run  only  about  ten  days  and  then  entirely 


ALONG  THE  SHORE. 


disappear  for  a  year,  or  until  the  fly  comes  again. 
One  of  the  peculiarities  of  this  fish  is  that  they  are 
nearly  all  of  uniform  size  and  have  a  very  small 
and  tender  mouth,  and  for  this  reason  it  takes  an 
expert  to  land  them  ;  thousands  are  caught  annu- 
ally. Bass,  pickerel  and  pike  are  also  taken  from 
this  lake,  and  it  is  expected  since  the  law  has  gone 
into  effect  prohibiting  fishing  through  the  ice,  that 
the  fishing  will  soon  be  greatly  improved. 

The  'only  village  on  the  shores  of  this  lake  is 


CISCO  FISHING. 


18 


WHITE  WINGS. 


known  as  Lake  Geneva,  located  on  the  extreme  east  end;  it  has 
a  population  of  2,800,  has  six  churches,  opera  house,  bank,  two 
weekly  newspapers,  waterworks,  electric  light,  and  telephone  ;  is 
the  center  of  a  rich  farming  and  dairying  district.  A  small  town 
is  being  built  on  the  north  shore  of  the  lake  called  Williams  Bay. 

(The  great  Yerkes  Observatory,  containing  the  largest  telescope  in  the  world,  con- 
trolled by  the  University  of  Chicago,  is  located  near  the  north  shore  on  the  west  end 
of  the  lake.  Had  the  lake  no  otlrer  attraction,  this  alone  would  bring  many  visitors.) 

19 


NATURE  AND  ART. 


THE    YERKES   OBSERVATORY 


....THE  YERKES  OBSERVATORY.... 

JHE  most  conspicuous  feature  of  the  western  end  of  Geneva  Lake  is  the  great  Yerkes  Observ- 
atory, the  gift  of  Mr.  Charles  T.  Yerkes,  the  street  railway  magnate,  to  the  University  of 
Chicago.  Situated  on  an  elevation  nearly  200  feet  above  the  lake,  the  building  looms 
above  the  trees,  showing  with  especial  prominence  from  the  south  shore  of  the  lake. 
Founded  in  1892,  the  building  was  begun  in  the  spring  of  1895  and  completed  two  years 
later.  The  architect  was  Henry  Ives  Cobb,  of  Chicago,  well  known  for  his  work  on  the  World's  Fair 
buildings.  The  main  structure  is  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  326  feet  in  length  east  and  west,  with  the 
shorter  arm  164  feet  in  length,  at  the  eastern  extremity.  At  the  western  end  is  the  great  dome,  92 
feet  in  diameter  and  rising  to  a  height  of  112  feet  above  the  ground.  This  dome  shelters  the  famous 
Yerkes  Telescope,  which  was  completed  in  1893  and  exhibited  at  the  World's  Fair.  The  mounting  was 
built  by  Warner  &  Swasey,  of  Cleveland,  who  spared  no  expense  or  pains  to  make  it  the  most  perfect 
instrument  of  the  kind  in  existence.  Placed  on  a  massive  brick  pier,  the  cast-iron  column,  in  four  sec- 
tions, rises  43  feet  and  weighs  50  tons,  furnishing  a  perfectly  steady  support  for  the  movable  parts  of  the 
telescope,  whose  tube  alone,  60  feet  long,  weighs  six  tons.  This  tube  supports  the  great  objective,  40 
inches  in  diameter,  the  masterpiece  and  last  work  of  the  late  Alvin  Clark,  who  as  an  optician  was  without 
a  peer  in  the  world. 

The  illumination  of  the  telescope  is  supplied  by  electric  lights,  the  quick  and  slow  motion  by  electric 
motors,  and  the  circular  floor  of  the  dome  room  rises  and  falls  by  the  mere  pressure  of  a  key  by  the 
observer.  Thus  every  requirement  for  the  finest  work  is  anticipated,  and  the  scientific  world  is  awaiting 

21 


with  the  greatest  interest  the  reports  which  are  already  beginning  to  come  of  research  in  the  far-off  realms 
of  space.  In  addition  to  the  great  telescope,  the  Observatory  is  well  equipped  with  minor  instruments, 
which  cannot  be  enumerated  here  ;  but  a  characteristic  feature  is  the  instrument  shop,  in  which  apparatus 
will  be  constructed  as  needed. 

The  staff  of  the  Observatory  is  worthy  of  this  unrivalled  equipment.  The  director,  Prof.  Geo.  -E. 
Hale,  though  a  young  man,  is  already  world-renowned  for  his  work  in  solar  physics,  done  at  Harvard 
College  and  at  the  Kenwood  Observatory  in  Chicago.  He  has  received  the  gold  medal  of  the  National 
Academy  of  France  for  his  spectroscopic  work,  and  as  editor-in-chief  of  the  Astrophysical  Joiirnal  he  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  best  living  authorities  in  his  department.  Dr.  E.  E.  Barnard,  of  the  Observatory 
staff,  is  famous  for  his  discovery  of  the  fifth  moon  of  Jupiter,  and  is  the  recipient  of  the  gold  medal  of 
the  Royal  Society  of  England,  for  this  and  for  his  work  on  celestial  photography,  which  is  without  doubt 
the  finest  in  existence.  His  exquiste  photographs  of  the  Milky  Way  have  never  been  equaled.  Dr. 
Barnard  is  to  have  a  celestial  camera,  especially  made  and  mounted  for  his  work,  placed  in  a  separate 
building.  Prof.  F.  L.  O.  Wadsworth,  the  astro-physicist  of  the  staff,  is  a  scholar  of  wide  experience  and 
is  rapidly  coming  to  the  front,  both  in  theoretical  work  and  in  the  skillful  designing  and  constructing  of 
special  apparatus.  Prof.  S.  W.  Burnham,  the  famous  double-star  observer,  is  also  one  of  the  staff,  and 
Dr.  G.  Willis  Ritchie,  the  optician,  is  now  grinding  the  mirror  for  a  reflecting  telescope  60  inches  in 
diameter,  which  will  be  second  in  power  only  to  the  great  Yerkes  refractor,  and  in  some  respects  it  is 
expected  to  surpass  even  that. 

Thus  in  location,  buildings,  instrumental  equipment  and  personnel,  the  Yerkes  Observatory  ranks 
with  the  best  in  the  world,  and  has  already  become  the  Mecca  of  scientific  men  from  all  quarters,  bidding 
fair  to  become  as  conspicuous  in  the  scientific  world  as  the  beautiful  buildings  are  to  the  shores  ofj  the 
fair  Geneva  Lake. 

22 


HEBRON. 


the     most 
and    being 
which,    In 


HE  village  of  Hebron  is  located  in  the 
northern  part  of  McHenry  County  and 
is  about  one  and  one-half  miles  south 
of  the  Wisconsin  line.    It  lies  in  one  of 
fertile     farming     regions     in     the     State, 
surrounded    by    a    rich    rolling    prairie, 
its    peculiar    relief    features,    is  especially 

free  from 
floods  or 
droughts. 
It  is  es- 
sentially 


H.   F.  JONES,   DIRECTOR,   HEBRON,   ILL. 


INTERIOR  STORE  M.  W.   MERRY,   HEBRON,   ILL. 

a  farming  community,  and  the  present  prosperous  village  owes 
its  existence  entirely  to  the  industrious  and  successful  farmers 
who  have  tilled  the  broad  acres  of  the  surrounding  prairie. 

The  village  is  an  incorporation  within  the  town  of  Hebron. 
Its  elevation  is  955  feet  above  the  sea  level.  The  Kenosha 
and  Rockford  Division  of  the  Northwestern  Railway  passes 
through  the  town,  which  is  70  miles  from  Chicago.  The  town 
was  named  bv  Mrs.  Bela  H.  Tyron,  the  first  white  woman  who 

*  J 

ev.er  resided    in  the  township,    the   first  settlers  coming  in  1836. 
23 


The1  village  has  a  population  of  700  and  was 
started  about  1861.  It  is  one  of  the  'good  business 
centers  and  trading  points  of  the  country.  There  are 
three  churches,  the  Methodist,  Presbyterian  and  Baptist, 
each  having  beautiful  and  commodious  edifices  of  wor- 
ship. There  is  one  school  building  which  accommo- 
dates about  '200  pupils  and  requires  a  force  of  four 
teachers.  Hebron  is  quite  a  shipping  point  for  milk 
and  dairy  products,  shipping  regularly  from  75  to  100 
cans  per  day,  while  a  local  creamery  uses  from  18,000 


TOWN   HALL. 


Residence   DR.   E.   L.   HERRICK. 


to  25,000  pounds  per  clay.  Six  creameries  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  ship  their  products  from  this 
station.  Dairying  is  the  principal  business  of  the 
farmers,  nearly  every  farmer  keeping  from  20  to  100 
cows.  The  village  contains  two  hardware  stores,  two 
drug  stores,  two.  furniture  stores  and  a  number  of 
general  stores,  all  of  which  carry  a  large  stock  of 
goods  and  conduct  a  prosperous  business.  A  bank 
has  been,  recently  started,  and  communication  with 

24 


the  outside  world  is  now  established  by  moans  of  a 
long-distance  telephone.  The  people  of  Hebron  are 
progressive  and  pride  themselves  on  the  neat  appear- 
ance of  their  residences,  the  cultivation  of  their  farms, 
the  education  of  their  children,  and  the  elevated  moral 
and  spiritual  tone  oi  the  community. 


PUBLIC    SCHOOL. 


HYDE  BLOCK. 


25 


WOODSTOCK. 


HE  county  seat  of  McHcnry  County  lies 
on  an  elevation  954  feet  above  the  sea 
level,     slightly    above    the    surrounding 
country,  and  on  the  Wisconsin  Division  of 
the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway,    51  miles  from 

Chicago. 
The  first 
building 
was  erected 
in  1844  and 
a  postoffice 


Residence   E.   E.   RICHARDS,  WOODSTOCK,   ILL. 


A.  K.  BUNKER. 


was  estab- 
lished in  the 

same  year.  The  town  is  well  laid  out,  having  a  public  park  in 
the  center  filled  with  beautiful  elms  and  maples.  A  mineral 
spring  is  in  this  park,  over  which  is  built  a  handsome  shelter  in 
the  form  of  a  pagoda.  The  spring  water,  which  contains  me- 
dicinal properties,  is  much  patronized  by  people  living  here,  and 
always  attracts  the  attention  of  strangers  who  visit  the  city. 

Among  the  public  improvements  is  the  large  and  substantial 
Court    House    and    County  Jail,    both    built    of    brick    and  stone, 

26 


McHENRY  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE  AND  JAIL. 


with  all  modern  conveniences.  This  city  can  be  justly 
proud  of  its  City  Hall,  which  is  probably  one  of  the  finest 
buildings  of  the  kind  in  any  city  of  its  size  in  the  whole 
northwest.  It  is  located  on  a  prominent  corner  facing  the 
park,  and  is  of  modern  design,  three  stories  high,  and  was 
completed  in  1890  and  cost  about  $30,000.  On  the  first 
floor  is  located  the  Council  room,  free  public  library  and 

and  reading 
room,  police 
magistrate's 
office  and  fire 
department 
apparatus. 
Above,  an 


STUDY  HALL,  TODD  SEMINARY. 


THE  LAWN,  TODD'SEMINARY. 


opera-house, 

seating  700,  with  a  fine  stage  well  equipped  with  scenery  and 
stage  accessories.  The  building  is  heated  throughout  with 
steam  and  lighted  with  electric  lights. 

This  city  is  supplied  with  water  from  an  artesian  well 
over  1,000  feet  deep,  from  which  water  is  pumped  into  a 
stand-pipe  16  feet  in  diameter  and  80  feet  high,  which  main- 
tains a  pressure  on  the  mains  in  the  business  part  of  town 
of  60  pounds.  A  well  organized  fire  department  has  access 

28 


iiu?fff  iiiis 


M.   D.   HOY   BLOCK. 


to    50    hydrants    in    different  parts   of   the    city   when   their  services 

are  needed. 

The  public  school  building  is  a  large,  imposing  structure,  three 

stories    high,     built    of    stone    and     brick,     heated    by    steam,    well 

lighted    and    ventilated    and    cost    nearly  $40,000.       The    school    is 

ably  managed  by  a  competent  corps  of  teachers  and  is  thoroughly 

equipped  with  apparatus. 

Todd  Seminary  for  boys  was  established  in  1848,  and  will  celebrate 

its  semi-centennial  in  June,  1898,  they  have  thirty  pupils,  which  is  their 

limit.  Under  the  present 
regime  Todd  Seminary  is  an 
ideal  home  school  for  good 
boys.  No  bad  ones  need 
apply,  for  the  institution  is 
not  in  any  sense  a  reform 
school.  Here  all  are  sur- 
rounded with  home  comforts,  and  kindly  but  thoroughly  disciplined  in 
all  matters  pertaining  to  neatness,  promptness  and  general  behavior. 
No  boys  over  fifteen  years  of  age  are  accepted  as  pupils.  The  grounds 
are  spacious,  sufficiently  retired  from  the  business  center  to  avoid 
interruptions  to  study.  The  regularity  of  habits  insisted  upon  and 
the  healthfulness  of  the  community  in  which  the  school  is  located, 
have  made  possible  the  somewhat  remarkable  record  that  in  nearly 


EMIL  ARNOLD,  WOODbTOCK. 


JOHN  R.   KELLOGG,    WOODSTOCK,  ILL. 


30 


THE  HOME    TODD  SEMINARY. 


GYMNASIUM     TODD  SEMINARY. 


STUDY  HALL,  TODD  SEMINARY. 


THE  HOME,  TODD  SEMINARY. 


CITY  HALL. 


fifty  years  of  its  existence  there  has  not  been  a  death  or 
serious  illness  among  its  pupils. 

Among  its  industries  are  the  Oliver  Typewriter 
Company's  works  employing  130  hands,  largely  skilled 
artisans. 

The  Woodstock  Brewing  and  Bottling  Company  have 
:i  large  plant  in  'the  western  part  of  the  city,  and  have 
been  in  business  at  this  place  since  1861.  It  manufac- 
tures an  excellent  quality  of  beer  and  has  a  capacity  of 
60,000  barrels.  Their  output  is  largely  sent  out  in  kegs, 
but  their  bottling  department  is  increasing  its  output 
annually.  They  not  only  bottle  beer,  but  ginger  ale,  pop 
mineral  water,  etc. 

Woodstock  has  eight  churches,  viz  :  Baptist,  Cath- 
olic, Congregational,  Free  Methodist,  German  Lutheran, 
German  Presbyterian,  Methodist  and  Presbyterian. 

A  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  Woman's 
Christian  Temperance  Union,  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic, Woman's  Relief  Corps,  Sons  of  Veterans,  and  the 
usual  secret  orders. 

This  town  is  also  the  home  of  Company  G,  Third 
Regiment,  Illinois  National  Guards,  who  have  quarters  in 
a  fine  new  armory. 

32 


The  McHenry  County  Fair  holds  its  annual  meetings  at  this  place,  and  is  one  of  the  few  successful  county 
fairs  held  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state,  being  ably  and  successfully  managed. 


STREET  SOUTH  OF  PARK 


33 


V/DTCSTOCK    DEWING    AND    BOTTLING    COMPANY'S   V.'ORKJ 


...MARENGO... 


|HE  City  of  Marengo  is  in 
the  southwestern  part  of 
McHenry  County,  on  the 
south  side  of  Kishwaukee 
River  and  on  the  FYeeport  Division  of 
the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad, 
66    1-10    miles    west    of    Chicago.      It 
contains  about  2,000  inhabitants. 

It  has  two  public  school  buildings, 
one  of  which  has  just  been  completed, 
and  both  of  which  are  of  modern 
construction  and  equipment.  Over  400 
pupils  attend  there.  The  structures 
are  upon  adjacent  lots.  One  principal 
and  eight  grade  teachers,  four  male 
and  five  female,  are  employed.  The  graduates  of  the  high  school  are  eligible  to  entry  in  the  colleges  of 
the  University  of  Illinois  without  examination  there.  This  feature  is  an  inducement  to  outsiders  to  take 
advantage  of  the  high  school  course,  of  which  many  avail  themselves. 

There  are  six  religious  denominations   which    maintain    regular   services.      The  Baptists  have  a  fine 
church,    built  of  wood  in  1896,   and    which    is    eminently    modern    in    every    feature    and    which  cost  about 

35 


PATRICK'S  OPERA  HOUSE,   MARENGO 


$15,000.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
erected  in  1897  and  cost  about  the  same  amount. 
The  latter,  although  quite  different  in  many  features 
from  the  former,  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  needs 
of  its  denomination,  having  special  rooms  for  the 
various  church  classes  and  societies.  Its  capacity 
when  the  Epworth  League  room  and  gallery  are  in 
use  is  about.  700  sittings.  The  Presbyterians  have 
begun  the  construction  of  a  new  church  which  will  be 
worth  about  the  same  as  either  of  those  mentioned, 
when  finished.  The  German  Lutherans  have  lately 
added  extensive  galleries  to  their  church,  which 
largely  increases  its  seating  capacity.  The  Free 
Methodists  and  the  Roman  Catholics  also  have  ample 
church  accomodations. 

The  Collins  &  Burgie  stove  factory  is  an  exten- 
sive plant  located  here.  It  has  a  capacity  for  employ- 
ing 500  hands.  The  manufactured  product  of  this 
establishment  challenges  comparison  with  that  of  any 
similar  factory  in  the  world.  Other  factories  are 
J.  H.  Patterson's  butter  tub  and  cheese  box  factory, 
an  iron  foundry  and  machine  shop,  a  planing  mill, 
two  feed  mills,  a  wind  mill  and  tank  factory,  two 


M.   E.  CHURCH.   MARENGO 


pickle  factories,  a  cigar  factory,  a  fruit  and  vegetable 
packing  factory,  a  steam  laundry  and  a  sugar-of-milk 
factory.  The  city  also  owns  and  operates  a  power 
house  containing  engines  and  appurtenances  for 
supplying  the  city  with  electric  lights  and  for  pump- 
ing and  distributing  the  city  water. 

Marengo   has    no    public    library    supported    by 
general  taxation.       There  is  a  library  in  the  public 


Residence  J.   M.   MARKS,  MARENGO 


Residence   DR.   F.   L.  NUTT    MARENGO 


schools  which  is  free  to  the  pupils.  There  is  another 
under  the  control  of  the  "Local  Union,"  and  two 
private  circulating  libraries.  The  last  three  are  avail- 
able to  all  on  payment  of  small  fees  for  the  use  of  the 
books. 

There  are  two  newspapers,  published  weekly, 
the  Marengo  Republican  and  the  Marengo  News. 
They  both  have  an  extensive  circulation. 


37 


There  is  an  excellent  local  telephone  service,  with  a 
switchboard  of  100  numbers,  about  90  of  which  are  now 
in  use.  The  appliances  are  of  the  most  recent  manufac- 
ture and  the  subscribers  enthusiastic  in  the  praise  of  its 
service. 

Marengo  is  surrounded  by  a  thickly  settled  farming 
population,  the  chief  occupation  of  which  is  dairying.  Pay- 


LOREN  WOODARO. 


Residence  L.  WOODARD    MARENGO 


ments  for  the  milk  sold  by  these  dairy- 
men to  their  local  creameries  near  their 
farms,  are  made  at  the  banks  here,  and 
a  large  percentage  of  these  receipts  are  in 
turn  expended  in  the  city  for  the  supplies 
needed  on  the  farms.  In  this  feature  of 


38 


Residence   N.  V.  WOLEBEN,   MARENGO 


Residence  T.  H.  GILL    MARENGO 


the  dairy  business,  Marengo  controls  an  unusually  large  territory  for 

a  city  of  its  size.     The  supplies  of  coal,  fittings  and  other  necessaries 

are  also  largely  obtained  at  Marengo  for  use  at  the  numerous  factories 

in  this  vicinity.  Their 
product  of  butter,  cheese, 
sugar-of-milk,  etc.,  is  al 
most  wholly  shipped  from 
this  point.  There  is  also 
considerable  milk  shipped 
to  Chicago  from  this  sta- 
tion. Marengo  is  widely 
recognized  as  an  import- 
ant point  of  distribution 
for  merchandise  suitable 
for  use  in  this  section  of 
the  country. 

It  has  two  banks,  the 
First  National  Bank  of 
Marengo  and  the  Dairy- 
mans'  State  Bank  of  Marengo.  Both  of  these  institutions  com- 
mand a  good  business  patronage,  and  continue  to  pay  good  divi- 
dends to  stockholders  and  also  add  to  their  surplus. 

The  natural  advantages  comprise,  among  other  features,  large 

40 


P.  T.   PARKHURST 


Residence  S.   8.  GARDNER,   MARENGO 


areas  of  excellent  farming  land,  and  adjoining  these,  along  the 
Kishwaukee  River,  great  tracts  of  fertile  bottom  land,  which  are 
unsurpassed  for  grazing  purposes.  Opposite  the  city,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  are  numerous  groves  of  heavy,  second 
growth  oak,  which  furnish  timber  for  fuel,  posts  and  other  pur- 
poses, at  a  reasonable  price  to  consumers.  There  is  another 
section  of  tree  growth  south  of  the  city.  Six  miles  west  of  the 

city  are  quarries  of  a 
good  quality  of  lime- 
stone suitable  for 
foundations  of  build- 
ings, in  fact,  the  walls 
of  several  of  the  pub  - 
lie  buildings  here  are 
composed  of  the  same 
stone  to  their  eaves. 
Boulders  are  also  ob- 
tainable for  founda- 
tions should  they  be 
preferred.  The  water 
of  the  Kishwaukee 


Residence  F.  W.   PATRICK,   MARENGO 


F.  W.   PATRICK 


River  has  been  utilized  to  run  a  grist  mill  about  a  mile  northeast  of 
the  city;  further  developments  of  this  power  is  possible. 

41 


Marengo   has  an  attractive  and  well    appointed  opera 
house,  capable  of  seating  600  persons. 

It    also    has    a    modern    and   convenient    hotel,    much 

appreciated  by 
the  traveling 
public,  whose  lot 
is  temporarily 
cast  here,  and 
who  know  how 
to  esteem  rest 
and  good  serv- 
ice. 

The  city  has 
felt  for  years  the 
lack  of  a  rail  line 
of  communica- 
tion north  and 


Residence  H.   R.   HUSTED,    MARENGO 


Residence  IRA  R.  CURTIS    MARENGO 


south     from    it, 

and  will   hail  with  delight  such  outlets  when  completed.      There 

is    no    doubt    that    such    would    be    well    patronized    as    well    as 

approved. 


42 


.GENOA. 


S  a  village  in  the  northern  part  of  DeKalb  County,  and  has 
a  population  of  1200.  It  is  situated  59  miles  from  Chicago, 
on  two  trunk  lines  of  railroads  ;  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul,  with  its  double  tracks,  and  the  Illinois  Central.  The 


accommodations  for  travel  east  and  west  are  good. 

and 


There  is  a  stage 


D.  S.   BROWN 


line    between    Genoa 
.  j  Sycamore. 

*"'       "  The    village    is    on    an 

elevation  somewhat  higher 
than  the  surrounding  coun- 
try, and  much  higher  than 
the  Kishwaukee  River  and 
valley  adjoining  its  western 
boundry.  The  first  settlers  selected  and  located  farms  and 
homes  here  as  early  as  1837. 

The  village  is  in  the  midst  of  a  farming  country  that  has 
a  rich,  fertile  soil.  Most  of  the  farms  are  adapted  to  dairying, 
they  have  excellent  dairy  stock,  and  in  the  hands  of  energetic 
dairymen  are  producing  a  good  quality  and  quantity  of  milk. 
A  commodious  creamery  provides  a  market  for  much  of 
the  milk,  and  the  good  facilities  furnished  by  either  of  the 

43 


LLOYD    BLOCK    GENOA 


railroads  for  shipping  it  to  Chicago  are  used  by  many 
dairymen. 

Its  mercantile  business  is  fully  equal  to  that  of 
towns  of  like  size.  It  has  stores  of  dry  goods,  clothing, 
drugs,  hardware,  groceries,  with  numerous  shops  and 
other  like  industries.  There  are  two  lumber  yards. 

The  banking  business  is  done  by  the  Exchange 
Bank.  The  shoe  factory  owned  and  operated  by  Selz, 


Residence  LOTTIE    BROWN,  GENOA 

Schwab  &  Co.,  employs  over  150  people.  It 
has  plenty  of  orders  for  goods,  and  they  are 
shipped  to  nearly  all  parts  of  the  country. 

There  is  a  well  equipped  school  house,  with 
a  school  containing  several  grades,  including  a 
high  school. 

There  are  three  churches  :  the  Advent  Chris- 
tian, the  Methodist  Episcopal,  and  the  Lutheran. 
Each  a  fine  edifice. 


Residence  SUSAN   E.  OLMSTEAD    GENOA 


44 


Residence  A.  B.  CLIFFORD    GENOA 


"  The  Genoa  Issue"  a  weekly  newspaper  pub- 
lished here  is  one  among  the  leading  papers  of 
DeKalb  County. 

The  village  is  adorned  with  several  new  and 

costly  res- 
idences - 
probably 
no  village 
of  equal 
size  in  the 
state  has 
more.  Its 
streets  are 
broad  and 
well  graded, 
tially  built. 


Residence    DR.  A.   M.   HILL,  GENOA 

Most  of    the  walks  are  of    cement,    new  and  substan- 
Such,   with  the  many  other  similar  improvements,  give 
the  village  an  attractive  appearance. 

With  the  Geneva  Lake,  Sycamore  &  Southern  Electric  Railroad 
built  into  Genoa,  the  village  will  gain  needed  and  valuable  advan- 
tages, an  increase  in  prosperity  and  growth,  and  furnish  a  profitable 
business  to  the  Electric  Railway  Company. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  GENOA 


46 


BANK,  GENOA 


.SYCAMORE. 


|HE  county  seat  of  DcKalb 
County  is  a  city  of  about  4000 
inhabitants,  and  probably  con- 
tains more  handsome  resi- 
dences than  any  country  town  of  its  size  in 
the  state;  its  streets  are  well  graded  and 
graveled;  it  has  a  fine  system  of  water  works 
with  stand-pipe  and  direct  pressure  and 
several  miles  of  water  mains  with  complete 
hydrants. 

The  city  is  built  on  an  elevated  piece 
of  land  considerably  higher  than  the  sur- 
rounding country,  making  it  easy  to  drain 
to  the  Kishwaukee  River,  which  flows  along 
its  northern  limits. 

Several    large    manufacturing   industries 
are  located  here,  among  the  most  prominent 
being   the    Sycamore    Foundry    &    Machine 
Co.,  manufacturers  of  agricultural  implements,  who  employ  from  50  to  70  hands.  •  The  Chicago  Insulated 
Wire  Co.  has  a  large  factory  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  where  insulated  electrical  wire  is  manufacured 

48 


ALIDA  YOUNG  TEMPLE,  SYCAMORE 


Braiders-CHICAGO    INSULATED   WIRE    COMPANY    FACTORY 


in  large  quantities,  both  weather-proof  and  magnet  wire.  This 
is  the  largest  plant  of  its  kind  in  the  west  and  employs  from 
70  to  90  hands,  and  is  about  to  be  enlarged  to  accommodate 
its  growing  business,  and  will  employ  from  100  to  125  people 

when     the    new    buildings    are 
completed. 

The  Sycamore  Preserve  Works 
have  a  very  large  plant  here  for  > 
canning  peas,  corn,  pumpkins, 
baked  beans,  apples,  etc.,  and 
often  employ  200  hands  during 
their  busy  season.  This  concern 
makes  their  own  cans  by  ma- 
chinery which  turn  out  thirty- 
five  thousand  per  day ;  their 
goods  go  all  over  the  world 


BELLE  OF  SYCAMORE  CIGAR  FACTORY 


Stpre  S.  W,  WINDEBS/SYCAMORE 


and  the  "Crescent  Brand"  is  always  popular;  it  is  ably  managed  and  one 
of  the  substantial  institutions  of  the  city. 

The  Illinois  Insulated  Wire  Co.  employ  from  20  to  30  hands  and 
manufactures  insulated  weather-proof  wire;  their  plant  being  located  near 
the  Great  Western  Depot. 

Among  the  smaller  industries  are  numbered  a  feed  mill,  wagon  factor}-, 
repair  shops,  etc. 

50 


WATERMAN    HALL    BUILDINGS— from  the  rear 


The  schools  of  Sycamore  are  excellently  managed,  and 
consist  of  the  High  school,  the  First  and  Third  Ward  schools. 

Waterman  Hall  derives  its  name  from  the  donor  of  its 
lands,  buildings  and  endowments. 

B}'  her  will,  Mrs.  Abbie  L.  Waterman  gave,  for  the 
foundation  of  a  school  for  girls,  her  family  residence  at 
Sycamore,  together  with  a  tract  of  sixty  acres  of  land  on 
which  suitable  buildings  for  the  institution's  purposes  have 
been  erected.  A  well  stocked  farm  of  five  hundred  acres 


HOTEL  WARD,  SYCAMORE 


Residence   E.  C.  CHANDLER,  SYCAMORE 

adjoining  the  school  grounds,  Waterman  Block 
in  Sycamore,  and  valuable  Chicago  property 
were  given  by  the  same  donor  for  the  endow- 
ment of  the  school. 

The  main  part  of  the  building,   erected  in 
1889,    is   eighty-five   feet    long   and    forty   feet 


52 


Residence    F.   B.  TOWNSEND,  SYCAMORE 


wide,  with  an  addition  in  the  rear  of  thirty-five  feet. 
An  additional  building,  thirty-five  by  sixty-five  feet 
was  opened  September  17,  1890. 

Within  these  buildings  and  under  one  roof  are 
combined  chapel,  school,  music  and  art  rooms,  sleep- 
ing rooms  for  seventy-five  girls  and  their  officers  and 
and  teachers  ;  parlor,  library,  dining  room,  gymna- 
sium, etc. 

The  buildings  are  built  of  stone  and  brick,  finished 


Gymnasium    STRANGLER'S  SOCIAL   CLUB,  SYCAMORE 


Residence  HON.  JAMES  BRANEN,  SYCAMORE 

in  hardwood,  heated  throughout  by  steam  or  hot 
air  furnaces,  lighted  by  gas  and  furnished  with 
pure  water  from  the  city  water  works. 

The  beautiful  grounds  affords  ample  space 
for  lawn  tennis  and  other  healthful  games  and 
amusements. 

The  officers  of  this  institution  are  the  Rt. 
Rev.  Wm.  E.  McLaren,  D.D.,  D.C.L.,  Presi- 
dent; Rev.  B.  F.  Fleetwood,  S.T.D.,  Rector 
and  Principal,  and  Rev.  W.  E,  Toll,  Secretary. 


54 


The  city  is  well  suppled  with  churches  in  which  all  the 
prominent  denominations  are  represented.  Three  of  the  finest 
church  buildings  in  the  county  are  located  here,  the  Congre- 
gational, Episcopal  and  Swedish  Luthern,  the  later  being  built 
in  1896.  The  Methodist,  a  frame  building,  is  finely  finished. 
Among  the  other  churches  are  the  Baptist,  German  Lutheran, 
Universalist  (a  fine  brick  building),  Weslyan  Methodist,  Swedish 


HON.  JAMES  BRANEN,   President 


Residence  DR.  C.   B    BROWN,  SYCAMORE 


Baptist,    Free  Methodist  and  Catholic. 

Two  newspapers  keep  the  public  posted, 
viz:  The  True  Republican,  a  semi-weekly, 
and  the  City  Weekly. 

Ward's  Opera  House  is  the  popular  place 
of  amusement,  having  a  seating  capacity  of 
about  500,  with  a  good  stage  and  scenery. 


55 


Among  the  principal  blocks  are  the  Alida  Young  Temple, 
built  in  1889  by  the  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows,  who  occupy 
the  second  and  third  stories,  while  the  ground  floor  is  occu- 
pied by  stores.  Central  Block,  Waterman  Block,  Georges 
Block,  Wilkins  Block  and  others. 

Every  branch    of   mercantile  business  is  here  represented, 


Residence  GEN.   E.   f.  DUTTON,  SYCAMORE 


GEORGE  B.   MORRIS,  Secretary 

there  being  one  wholesale  grocery,  seven  retail 
groceries,  four  dry  goods  stores,  three  hard- 
ware stores,  three  cigar  manufactories,  one 
wholesale  tobacconist,  three  clothing  stores 
and  several  others  that  carry  a  general  stock, 
two  bakeries  and  four  or  five  restaurants.  Its 


56 


office  rooms  are  filled  with  attorneys,  physicians,  dentists,  insurance 
and  real  estate  men. 

An  emergency  hospital  was  established  about  a  year  ago  and 

has  proved  not  only  a  con- 
venience but  a  profitable 
investment. 

The  Stranglers'  Athletic 
and  Social  Club  has  a  mem- 
bership of  fifty. 

The  gymnasium  is  com- 
posed of  assembly  and 
billiard  rooms,  dressing 
rooms  with  lockers,  wash, 
shower  and  bath  rooms, 
with  hot  and  cold  water 
connections. 

The    main    hall    contains 


JNO.  B.  WHALEN,  Promoter  and  General  Manager 


GEORGE  BROWN,  Treasurer 


hand  ball  courts,  a  padded 

boxing    ring,    parallel    bars, 

swinging  rings,  trapeze,  punching  bag,  fencing  foils,  bicycle  trainer, 

Indian    clubs,   quoits,   dumb    bells,    etc.       It    is    lighted    throughout 

with  electricity.      It  is  one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped  "gyms" 

in  Northern  Illinois. 

57 


IHOTEL  WILLIAMS,  SYCAMORE 


The  railroad  facilities  of  the  town  are  good;  the 
city  is  located  on  the  main  line  of  the  Great  West- 
ern and  is  connected  with  De  Kalb  by  a  branch  of 
the  same  line.  The  Northern  Illinois  passes  through 
the  town,  the  southern  terminus  of  said  road  being 
Spring  Valley,  where  large  quantities  of  coal  is  mined, 
and  the  northern  terminus  at  Belvidere,  about  twenty- 
two  miles  north.  Connection  is  also  made  with  the 
main  line  of  the  Northwestern  over  the  Sycamore  & 


Residence  W.   H.   ROGERS.  SYCAMORE 


Residence  CAPITA.   F.   PARKE,  SYCAMORE 


Cortland,  and  by  way  of  De  Kalb  over  the  North- 
ern Illinois.  Six  passengers  trains  per  day  each 
way  are  run  over  the  Great  Western  and  the  same 
number  over  the  Northwestern. 

The  farming  land  in  all  directions  from  the 
town  are  occupied  by  rich  and  prosperous  farmers. 

Sycamore  is  one  of  the  largest  sheep  feeding 
stations  in  the  state,  three  or  four  firms  being  en- 
gaged in  this  business.  It  is  not  unusual  to  have 
as  many  as  30,000  sheep  in  the  sheds  located  here 
at  one  time. 


59 


The  Sycamore  Electric  Light  Company  is  one  of  the 
best  equipped  electric  light  companies  in  Northern  Illinois, 
besides  furnishing  light  for  all  public  and  business  places,  a 
large  portion  of  the  residences  use  the  electric  light.  The 
company  also  furnishes  steam  from  its  plant  for  heating 
purposes,  using  the  Holly  system.  They  have  in  operation 


Residence  CHARLES  O.   BOYNTON,  SYCAMORE 


Residence   F.   LANGLOIS,  SYCAMORE 

several  hundred  feet  of  mains  laid  through  the 
streets  for  the  purpose  of  conducting  steam 
with  which  they  furnish  the  consumers;  the 
exhaust  steam  being  used.  Although  the  steam 
was  introduced  but  two  years  ago,  many  of  the 
stores  offices  and  hotels  are  now  using  the  heat. 
It  is  giving  such  general  satisfaction  that  the 
mains  will  eventually  be  extended  to  the  resi- 
dence portion  of  the  town  and  to  the  churches 
and  public  buildings. 


60 


Sycamore    is    well    provided    with    good 
hotels.       The   Ward    Hotel,    located   on   the 


A  RELIC  OF  THE  PAST,  SYCAMORE 

corner  of  State  and  California  Streets,  is  a  commodious 
three  story  and  basement  brick  building,  heated  with  steam 
and  lighted  with  electric  lights.  The  Hotel  Williams,  cor- 
ner California  and  Elm  Streets,  is  a  new  three  story  frame 
building  with  all  modern  improvements,  being  also  heated 
with  steam  and  lighted  with  electric  lights.  The  Johnson 
House,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Elm  Streets,  is  a  two- 
story  brick  building  with  all  modern  improvements.  Among 
the  other  hotels  are  the  Wier  House  and  City  Hotel. 


Residence  GEO.   M.  SIVWRIGHT,  SYCAMORE 


61 


Residence  JUDGE  CHARLtS  A.   B.SHOP,  SYCAMOHE 


Residence  J.   B.  WHALEN,  SYCAMORE 


.CORTLAND. 


JHIS  village  of  about  400  inhabitants  is  situated 
on  the  main  line  of  the  Chicago  &  North  Western 
Railway,  about  55  miles  from  Chicago,  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  rich  farming  country,  has  two 
churches,  one  Methodist  and  one  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints. 
It  also  possesses  a  fine  public  school  building.  The  town  has 
a  long  distance  telephone  system,  connected  with  the  Central 
Union  lines. 

The  Cortland  creamery  receives  on  an  average  of  7000  Ibs.  of  milk  per  day  and  is  one  of  the 
important  industries,  There  is  also  a  well  equipped  feed  mill.  A  hotel  and  the  usual  number  of  mercan- 
tile establishments,  while  coal  and  lumber  yards  are  well  represented  at  this  place. 


E.   DELANA 


63 


.HlNCKLEY. 


S  on  the  Chicago  &  Iowa  Railroad  (a  part  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  system)  and 
is  55  miles  west  from  Chicago,  and  18  miles  west  from  Aurora.  It  has  an  elevation  of 
672  feet  above  the  sea  level  and  is  surrounded  by  a  fine  farming  and  dairying  country  and 
is  the  center  of  a  large  grain  producing  district.  Hinckley  was  the  first  place  to  be  settled 
in  the  county.  In  September,  1834,  Wm.  Sebree,  with  his  family,  camped  among  the  Indians 

and    built    a    small  log  house    at    the  approach  of    winter.      At   this  time  he  and  his  family  were  the  only 

white  inhabitants  in  this  section  of  the  country. 

The    first  white    child    born    in    the    county  was 

John    Miller,   a   relative    of    Sebree.      In    1838  a 

log  school  house  was  built. 

The    town  was    platted  in   1873  by  Francis 

E.    Hinckley,    who    owned    the    lands  where    the 

present    town    is    built.      The  village  has  a  pop- 
ulation of  800,  one  graded  school  house,  Metho- 
dist, Baptist  and  German  Lutheran  Churches. 
Among  the  manufactures  of   this  place  is  a 

large    brick    and    tile    factory  with  a  capacity  of 

20,000  brick  and    10,000  tile  per  day;  with  the 

plant  is  connected   a  feed   mill,   used  during  the 

winter  season,  with  a  capacity  for  handling  10,000 

bushels  per  month. 


Residence  J.  B.  POGUE 


64 


The  village  has  an  excellent  system  of  water  works,  consisting  of  a  reservoir  of  large  capacity, 
elevated  65  feet.  The  water  supply  comes  from  a  well  300  feet  deep,  the  water  being  of  an  excellent 
quality  and  is  generally  used  for  domestic  as  well  as  fire  purposes.  Water  mains  are  laid  through  all  the 
principal  streets,  with  17  hydrants  in  different  parts  of  the  village,  making  it  a  practical  and  complete 
system.  It  also  has  a  well  equipped  fire  department  consisting  of  hose,  and  hook  and  ladder  companies, 
with  about  1,000  feet  of  hose.  Some  of  the  largest  grain  elevators  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state  are 
located  here,  one  built  in  1897  has  a  capacity  of  over  90,000  bushels  and  the  other  equipped  with 

all  modern  improve- 
ments has  a  storage  ca- 
pacity of  125,000  bu. 
A  circulating  library 
is  one  of  the  recently 
added  conveniences. 

Hinckley  has  a  cream- 
ery to  which  is  delivered 
on  an  average  of  about 
15,000  Ibs.  of  milk  per 
day,  the  most  of  which 
is  used  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  butter  and  a  por- 
tion of  the  cream  is 
shipped  to  the  Chicago 


PATTEN  BROTHERS'   BRICK  AND  TILE   FACTORY,  HINCKLEY 


market. 


65 


.SANDWICH. 


|HE  city  of  Sandwich  is 
located  on  the  main  line  of 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  R.  R.,  about  60 
miles  from  Chicago.  It  has  an  elevation  of 
680  feet  above  the  sea  level;  is  located  in  a 


CITY  HALL,  SANDWICH 


fine  farming  country.  Sandwich  boasts  of  her  public 
improvements,  and  well  she  may;  her  streets  are  well 
graded  and  are  lighted  by  an  electric  light  system 
owned  by  the  city.  She  also  has  a  fine  system  of 
water  works.  The  city  building  is  of  modern  design, 
heated  with  steam  and  lighted  with  electric  light 
throughout;  the  first  floor^contains  the  City  Council 


WALLACE  &  SON'S  BLOCK    SANDWICH 


Store  J.  L.  WARNER,  SANDWICH 

room,  Police  Magistrate's  office,  City  Jail,  Fire  Depart- 
ment apparatus  and  club  room  of  the  fire  department; 
in  the  upper  story  is  located  the  Opera  House,  which 
seats  800  people,  equipped  with  a  fine  stage,  scenery 
and  accessories;  many  conveniences  being  found  on 
the  stage  that  are  not  usually  provided  in  a  town  of 
its  size.  The  city  water  supply  comes  from  a  vein 

67 


KEHL  <t  SON'S  CARRIAGE   FACTORY,  SANDWICH 

110  feet  below  the  surface  and  is  generally  used  for  domestic  pur- 
poses, as  the  water  is  of  an  excellent  quality;  about  100,000  gallons 
per  day  being  used.  A  stand-pipe,  12  feet  in  diameter  and  100  feet 
high  furnishes  the  storage  room  and  gives  pressure  sufficient  for  all 

68 


WATER  WORKS  AND  LIGHT  PLANT,  SANDWICH 


fire  purposes.  Water  mains  are  laid  through  all  the  principal 
streets,  the  whole  system  being  about  six  miles  in  extent  with 
forty-five  hydrants  located  at  convenient  points  from  which 
nearly  the  whole  city  can  be  reached  with  the  hose  kept  on 
the  hose  carts.  The  fire  department  consists  of  two  Hose 
Companies  and  one  Hook  and  Ladder  Company. 

This    city    has    two    public    school    buildings    of     modern 


Residence  WM.    DEACON,  SANDWICH 


SANDWICH  HOUSE.  SANDWICH 


design,  built  of  brick  with  all  modern  im- 
provements. No  town  of  its  size  has  better 
school  buildings.  A  principal  with  a  corps 
of  eleven  teachers  in  the  different  depart- 


SEDGWICK  &  SONS'  BANK,  SANDWICH 


ments  conduct 
the  school  in  the 
most  approved 
manner. 

One  of  the 
permanent  in- 
stitutions is  the 
Sandwich  Fair, 
owned  and  man- 
aged  by 
a  stock 
company, 
the  e  x  - 
tensive 
grounds, 


WALLACE   HOUSE,  SANDWICH 


S.   BAKER 


all  prop- 
erly enclosed,  occupy  about  40  acres  of  land,  about  one-half 
mile  west  of  the  center  of  the  city  ;  it  is  equipped  with  a  fine 
half-mile  track,  with  convenient  barns  and  stables,  and  an  exhibi- 
tion hall  costing  over  $6,000,  part  of  the  grounds  are  well 
shaded  with  natural  timber,  and  the  annual  meetings  are 
patronized  by  people  for  miles  around;  the  average  attendance 
for  several  years  past  being  between  25,000  and  30,000  people. 

70 


Residence  J.  W.  BLEE,  SANDWICH 


SANDWICH  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

HILE  in  Sandwich  we  were  shown  through   the  works  of  the  Sandwich  Manufacturing  Company,  one  of  the  oldest  and  best 
known  manufacturing  concerns  in  Illinois.     Quietly  and  without  flourish  this  Company  is  carrying  on  a  very  large  business, 
the  importance  of  which   is  better  understood  after  a  visit  to  the  works  and  an  observation  tour  among  the  machines  that 
they  build.     It  is  now,  and  always  has  been,  a  very  regular  dividend  earner  and  its  prospects  for  the  future  seem  very  bright. 
Established  by  A.  Adams  &  Sons  in  1856,  incorporated  under  its  present  name  in  1867,  it  has  grown  from  a  small  foundry 
until  now  its  shops  and  yards  cover  more  than  eight  acres  of  ground  and  its  products  are  sold  all  over  the  world. 
The  Managing  Officers  of  the  Company  are:    ].  P.  Adams,  Secretary  and  General   Manager;  H.  A.  Adams,  Mechanical  Superintendent. 
These  gentlemen  having  filled  their  respective  positions  from  the  date  of  incorporation,  coming  to  the  Company  from  the  old  firm  of  A.  Adams 
&  Sons.     The  Board  of  Directors  is  made  up  of  the  following  well-known  business  men:     G.  W.  Culver,  President;  H.  Latham,  Vice-President; 
F.  S.  Mosher,  A.  G.  Greenman,  J.  C.  Taylor,  J.  E.  Woodward,  H.  A.  Adams. 

In  these  works  have  been  manufactured  for  more  than  two  score  years  the  "Sandwich"  Shelters,  known  wherever  corn  is  grown.  More 
of  these  machines  being  built  and  sold  annually  than  of  all  other  makes  combined. 

A  few  years  ago  the  Company  added  a  line  of  Hay  Presses,  and  so  popular  have  these  balers  become,  that  in  five  or  six  years  this  house 
has  reached  a  place  in  the  front  rank  of  press  manufacturers  and  builds  annually  at  least  as  many  baling  presses  as  are  turned  out  by  any  other 
manufacturer  in  the  United  States.  The  Company  also  builds  a  full  line  of  Horse  Powers,  the  celebrated  "Clean  Sweep"  Hay  Loaders,  an 
excellent  line  of  Mowing  Machines,  Feed  Mills,  Tank  Heaters  and  other  light  goods. 

Several  branch  houses  are  maintained,  the  most  important  being  at  Council  Bluffs,  la.,  Kansas  City,  Mo,,  and  Bloomington,  111.  Stocks  of 
machinery  and  repairs  are  also  carried  at  Sioux  City,  la  ,  Cedar  Rapids,  la.,  Jackson,  Mich.,  Denver,  Colo.,  Portland,  Ore.,  Los  Angeles,  Cal., 
and  many  other  points  bolh  east  and  west. 

The  Company  has  always  been  a  large  seller  in  foreign  markets  and  is  constantly  booking  and  handling  export  orders  for  corn 
shelling  machinery,  baling  presses  and  hay  loaders.  It  has  old  and  well  established  agencies  in  Australia,  Argentine  Republic,  Uruguay  and 
Mexico,  and  customers  and  correspondents  in  nearly  every  other  country  where  American  machinery  is  used. 

Unlike  many  implement  factories,  these  works  are  not  shut  down  a  large  part  of  the  year,  but  have  a  record  for  steady  movement  of 
business  not  excelled  by  any.  Cars  are  being  loaded  out  almost  every  working  day  in  the  year  and  the  line  of  goods  is  so  large  that  it  is  prac- 
ticable to  run  the  works  profitably  at  all  seasons.  The  majority  of  the  employes  own  property  in  the  city  and  are  thrifty,  intelligent  men,  hence 
labor  troubles  are  unknown  here. 

The  reader  would  not  be  interested  in  technical  descriptions  of  the  machines  built  in  this  factory,  but  all  residents  of  this  locality  will  be 
interested  to  know  of  the  volume  of  manufacturing  business  done  in  Sandwich,  and  when  in  this  city  with  leisure,  it  w^ll  pay  any  one  to  go 
through  the  works  of  the  Sandwich  Manufacturing  Company  and  see  the  variety  of  machinery  it  turns  out  and  learn  something  of  the  processes 
employed  in  a  first-class  implement  factory. 


Shops-SANDWICH    MANUFACTURING   COMPANY 


.MlLLINGTON. 


|HE  village  of    Millington    is  on  the  Fox  River  branch  of    the  Chicago,    Burlington   &  Quincy 
Railroad,    about  fifty-six  miles  from  Chicago. 

The  village  is  pleasantly  situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Fox  River.     Along  the  banks, 
near  this  place,   are  large  deposits  of  white  sand  used    so  extensively  in  the  manufacture  of 
glass;  immense  mills  for  the  preparation    of   this  sand    are   located    immediately  east  of   the  village.      Fine 
deposits  of  gravel  exist  all  along  the  river  for  miles  above  and  below  this  point. 
The  village  has  a  population  of  about  300  inhabitants. 


74 


.NEWARK. 


HIS  beautiful  little  village  is  situated  in  the  southwest  part  of  Kendall  County  and  has  a 
population  of  about  500  inhabitants.  It  is  an  inland  town  and  has  no  railroad  nearer  than 
Millington,  three  miles  distant,  which  is  connected  with  stage  that  meets  all  passenger  trains. 
It  surprises  one  to  find  such  a  flourishing  town  without  modern  transportation  facili- 
ties, while  it  lies  in  the  heart  of  a  fine  grain  producing  country.  Whatever  is  shipped  for  several  miles 
around  must  pass  through  the  village  in  order  to  reach  the  railroad. 

Many  of   the   stores  contain    large  and    finely  assorted    stocks,   and   the    whole    town    has    an    air   of 
prosperity. 

The    building    of   the  Geneva  Lake,    Sycamore  &  Southern  Electric  Railway  will  undoubtedly  make 
this  village  one  of  the  liveliest  of  its  size  in  this  part  of  the  state. 


75 


.MORRIS. 


|HE  county  seat  of  Grundy  County,  on  the  Illinois  River,  sixty-two  miles  from  Chicago  on 
the  main  line  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad.  It  has  a  population  of 
4,500;  its  streets  are  regularly  laid  out,  mostly  graded  and  graveled. 

The  High 

School  is  a  large  stone  build- 
ing, four  stories  high,  cen- 
trally located.  It  also  has 
three  ward  school  houses  of 
modern  brick  design;  light, 
heat  and  ventilation,  with 
other  conveniences,  appears 
to  have  been  uppermost  in 
the  minds  of  those  who  plan- 
ed the  buildings.  A  force  of 
sixteen  teachers  are  employed 
in  the  different  school  build- 
ings. The  Parochial  School 
adjoining  the  Catholic  Church, 
under  the  direction  of  the 
Rev.  Father  Mehan,  has 
about  fifty  pupils,  ij  The  St. 


GRUNDY  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE 


76 


Angela's  Academy  for  girls  is  conducted  by  the 
Sisters  of  the  Holy  Cross,  they  have  about  forty 
pupils,  it  accommodates  both  boarding  and  day 
scholars.  The  -school  building  is  a  fine  three  story 
brick  structure  and  is  in  no  manner  connected  with 
the  Parochial  School  above  mentioned. 

Eight    Church    Societies,    most   of   which    have 


Residence  WALTER  JONES,  MORRIS 


Residence  C.  A-   MILLER,   MORRIS 

fine  substantial  church  buildings.  Among  the  most 
noticable  being  the  Congregational  Church,  a  large  stone 
building  located  in  a  pleasant  part  of  the  city.  The 
other  churches  are  the  Methodist,  Presbyterian,  Bap- 
tist, Catholic,  Norwegian  Lutheran,  Swedish  Baptist 
and  Free  Methodist. 

This  city  is  located  in  the  center  of  a  large  grain 
producing  country,   and  the  Morris  Grain  Co.  handle 

77 


GEBHARD  BREWERY,   MORRIS 


a  large  portion  of  the  grain  brought  to  this 
market,  owning  three  elevators,  the  largest  of 
which  has  a  capacity  of  165,000  bushels. 

Among  the  prominent  industries  are  the 
Gebhard  Brewery,  having  a  capacity  of  45,000 
barrels  of  beer  per  annum.  The  plant  consists 
of  a  new  seven  story  brick  building  built  in 
1897  with  all  modern  improvements,  using  the 
latest  improved  methods.  The  products  of 
the  brewery  ranks  with  the  best;  a  bottling 
department  is  about  to  be  added  to  the  plant. 

The  Coleman  Hardware  Co.  manufacture 
hardware,  staples  and  specialties.  They  have 
large  foundries  and  machine  shops  conveniently 
arranged,  built  in  a  substantial  manner,  and 
employ  about  125  men. 

The  Woefel  Leather  Co.  own  and  operate  one  of  the  largest  tanneries  in  the  state.  Their  plant  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  the  fall  of  1897  and  was  immediately  rebuilt.  The  new  buildings  are  equipped  with 
all  modern  machinery  and  appliances,  and  have  a  capacity  of  650  sides  per  day  and  consume  4,000  cords 
of  bark  per  annum,  most  of  which  comes  from  Michigan  and  Wisconsin.  They  employ  from  175  to  200 
hands  and  manufacture  belting,  harness,  Russian  seal,  grain,  fancy  straps,  Goodyear  welting,  etc. 

The  Steel  Tired  Wheel  Co.,  has  a  large  strawboard  plant  near  the  eastern  limits  of  the  city  which 
has  a  capacity  of  twelve  tons  per  day.  The  plant  was  built  in  1882.  They  own  forty  acres  of  land. 

79 


CARSON   HOUSE,   MORRIS 


Residence  WM.  GEBHARD,' MORRIS 


The  buildings  are  of  brick,   with  slate  roof,   and  equipped    throughout  with  all    necessary  machinery.     The 
plant  cost  when  erected  $120,000. 

The  Morris  Floral  Co.,  incorporated  with  a  capital  stock  of  $15,000,  have  one  of  the  most 
perfect  and  complete  plants  of  the  kind  in  the  state.  They  have  twelve  large  greenhouses,  all  heated 
with  steam,  eight  acres  of  land  with  all  the  necessary  buildings,  a  fine  supply  of  water  from  an  artesian 
well,  and  their  products  are  sold  all  over  the  country.  They  employ  ten  men. 

This  city  has  a  very  fine  system  of  water  works,  the  water  supply  coming  from  a  well  674  feet 
deep,  cased  with  8-inch  pipe  from  reservoir  containing  125,000  gallons,  the  water  is  forced  through  two 
Dean  pumps  having  a  daily  capacity  of  1,000,000  gallons  to  a  stand  pipe  125  feet  high  and  12  feet  in 
diameter.  An  air  compressor,  having  a  capacity  of  12,000  gallons  per  hour,  is  used  to  force  water  from 

well  into  reservoir.  In  the 
system  for  distribution  is  over 
eight  miles  of  mains  with 
eighty  hydrants  located  so  as 
to  cover  the  entire  city.  The 
water  is  in  general  use  for 
domestic  purposes;  the  pump- 
ing station  is  up-to-date  in 
every  respect,  the  pumps  be- 
ing located  in  a  fine  brick 
building.  The  initial  cost  of 
the  entire  plant,  including 
six  miles  .of  mains  and  all 


Residence   E.   L.  CLOVER,   MORRIS 


81 


Residence  MAYOR  J.  N.  BUNNELL,  MORRIS 


machinery  and  equipments,   was   about    $31,000. 

The  City  Council  is  composed  of  the  Mayor, 
City  Clerk,  Treasurer  and  eight  Alderman,  and 
the  affairs  of  the  city  are  carefully  and  econom- 
ically managed. 

The  Field  Electric  Light  Co.  furnish  light 
for  public  and  private  use,  operating  both  arc  and 
incandescent  systems. 

There  are  twelve  coal  mines  operated  in  the 
vicinity  which  probably  furnish  the  best  bitumi- 
nous coal  mined  in  the  state,  the  coal  being 
used  for  home  consumption  only,  as  no  facilities 
for  shipping  have  been  provided.  The  coal 
producing  area  is  from  ten  to  twelve  miles  long 
and  from  two  to  three  miles  wide.  The  vein  is 

Residence  G.  A.  CUNNEA,   MORRIS 

found   at   an    average  depth  of   sixty  feet  and    is 

usually  three  feet  thick  and  is  easily  and  safely  worked,   having  a  good  roof   and  usually  free  from  water. 
Morris  has  a  fine  fair   ground  with    excellent    stables    and    buildings    for  exhibits  and  one  of   the  very 
few  mile  tracks  in  the  state. 


83 


Herewith  is  given  an  estimate  of  the  probable  operating  expenses  and  receipts  of  the  road.  In 
compiling  this  no  effort  has  been  made  to  exagerate.  We  believe  it  will  be  found  conservative  and  that 
the  actual  receipts  will  far  exceed  the  estimate  : 


Daily  Operating  expenses 

Coal, 

Motormen  and  conductors,  14  @  $2.00  per  day, 

Men  at  power  house,  15  @  $2.00  per  day, 

Electrician  and  assistant, 

Section  men,  20  @  $1.25  per  day, 

Machinist  and  carpenter. 

Oil  and  waste, 

Incidental  expenses, 

Interest  on  $510,dOO.OO  bonds  @  6%, 


J.75.00 

28.00 

30.00 

5  00 

25.00 

5.00 

5.00 

5.00 

8.38 


estimated  Daily  Receipts 

Freight  on  250  tons  of  coal  at  fl.OO  per  ton,  $250.00 
Fares,  five  passengers  per  car,  each  way  over  whole  line,  110 

miles,  2  cents  per  mile,  seven  round  trips  per  day,  154.00 

Merchandise  and  freight  other  than  coal,  40.00 

Express,  25.00 

Milk,        -  -      50.00 

Mail,  25.00 

Transfer  of  cars  from  one  steam  road  to  another,       -  -      15.00 


Total  operating  expenses,  $186.38 


Total  daily  receipts,  $559  00 


Cotal  earnings  for  One  year 

Total  earnings  per  year,  365  days,  -    $204,035.00 

Estimated  freight  on  ice  per  year, 

Estimated  fares  Geneva  Lake  passengers  per  year, 


Estimated  operating  expenses  per  year, 
Estimated  office  expenses  per  year,  salaries,  etc.,   - 
10%  dividend  on  capital  stock, 


Net  earnings  for  one  year, 


5,000.00 
25,000.00 

68,028.00 
10,000.00 
15,000.00 


$234,035.00 


$93,028.00 
$141,007.00 


The    capital    stock    of  this  Company  is    $150,000.00    divided    into    15,000    shares    of   $10.00    each. 

Subscriptions  to  the  capital  stock  of  this  Company  can  be  made  at  the  home  office  at  Sycamore, 
Illinois,  and  also  to  any  member  of  the  board  of  directors.  Ten  per  cent  of  the  amount  subscribed  must 
be  paid  when  subscription  is  made ;  the  balance  will  probably  be  called  for  as  needed  in  four  installments. 

It  is  not  definitely  known  at  the  present  time  what  amount  of  bonds  will  be  placed  on  the  market; 
with  the  prospects  for  business  in  sight  and  the  assured  earning  capacity  of  the  road  the  bonds  will 
undoubtedly  prove  a  popular  security.  All  communications  regarding  stock  or  bonds  should  be  addressed 
to  the  home  office. 


F 
S39 


